Two School Problems

A short visit to what's called the Washington Administrative Building on Oak Street in Brainerd brought back a lot of memories. My parents and brother lived three blocks south of the school. My sister was born when I was a senior and my brother and I used to walk her around the block after we came home from school. I even took a couple of minutes wandering through the old band room and then stopped in at the superintendent's office. If there's anything I regret, it's that I didn't apply myself and get even more from my years as a Washington High Warrior, looking forward to the next encounter with any sports team carrying the maroon and white of the C-I Rangers.

Things have changed, and I'm not talking about just the water fountains.

Minnesota schools continue to offer one of the best educational experiences in the nation but the rest of the world has caught up. Mr. Fox' typing class and Miss Torgerson's math have left lasting personal benefits and I've always wondered why. If we could bottle what they offered and make sure every young mind got the same treatment, perhaps our global standing wouldn't be so tough to talk about. Hopefully we can figure it out soon.

Meanwhile, there are two problems we could fix and perhaps within the near future. Unfunded mandates and equitable funding.

State and national governments should not be allowed to tell local schools what to do and then not pay for it. That practice has to stop.

And education for all students in Minnesota should get the same funding. In other states, lack of equal funding is close to reaching the courts and then we won't have the flexible to find a workable solution. Equal funding has to be achieved soon.

There are more problems to be solved but these two should be on the front burner. Perhaps then we can ask Mr. Fox and Ms. Torgerson for their suggestions on the others.